Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-09-16

EAT iast-at last, | have been here
too long" she gasped
thought that the effect of her ncrv-
Gus temperament of making her leave
the room against her will would out
weigh any physical good the change
might do her The wild look was COM
ing into her eyes which l had seen
there twice before. so l said gently:
"Of course Mr.. Rayner would not
wish you to go if you did not wish it.
But she shook her head. and, put
ting her face between the bars TO be
closer to me, she said. in a low broken
voice:
''Do you know what his wishes mean
when Sarah carries them out?'
| stood looking up at her, appalled,.
Her terror was SO real that it infected
me. and for the moment | almost shared
the poor lady's mad belief that there
was 2 conspiracy against her. But her
neXtwofus restored me 20 my senses.
"Are you against me, too?' she
asked, piteously. II always thought
you were; but then YOU were kind to
my child-and l don't know whom to
trust!'
You may trust me, dear Mrs. Ray
ner, indeed" said /, earnestly. Il
would not have suggested your leaving
your room if l had thought it would
cause you so much pain. Indeed. l did
not know you were so much attached
to II"
''Miss Christie" she said at last,
''you have influence in this house If |
may trust you. give me this proof-get
one days respite. Let me stay in my
own room till-to-morrow."
Her voice sunk till ! could hardly
catch the last words.
twill try" said I. softly. "And,
oh, Mrs. Rayner. shall l tell Sam to
take the dead leaves away in wheel
barrow?"
mo, no, leave them-never mind"
said she hurriedly. You must be in
the water. You will catch cold. Co
Heaven bless your'
She shut down the window in a
frightened way. and disappeared into
the room. l turned and splashed nv
way back. with my teeth chattering, to
the house. and changed my wet shoes
and stockings. half crying for pity for
the poor, helpless, forlorn lady for
whom could do so little.
At tea time she came into the dining
room and told Sarah had received a
letter from Mr.. Rayner and he thought
his wife had better move to the spare
room on Saturday.
Saturday" interrupted Sarah,
sharply:
Yes" said I, rather frightened at
telling such story. ''Do you think
you would like to go tomorrow, or
would you rather go tonight. Mrs.
Rayner?" asked gently.
Tomorrow" said she, with q
steady look which took as an 40
knowledgment; and turned to
Sarah.
II will answer for it to Mr.. Rayner,
If there has been any mistake" said.
Every well. MISS" said Sarah,
quietly. For the second time Mr.. Ray
ner's name had acted like charm.
After tea Mrs. Rayner came and
stood by my side as Sarah was clearing
the table and once when the latter was
out of the room for a moment she
breathed softly into my car:
''Take care-she hates you. and she
is dangerous"
glanced up quickly; but Sarah was
already back in the room, and Mrs.
Rayner's face was as impassive as
ever.
was so much used to living in fear
of Sarah that the warning did not
make any particular impression upon
me, and went to bed neither more nor
less afraid of her Vaccinations than
usual. awOke in the night without
being conscious of any cause for doing
so. Then as l raised myself on my
elbow thought heard slight sound
outside my door. So kept still and
listened intently. Again there was a
muffled noise as though something
were being showed from one staircase to
another. got out of bed softly and
lighted my candle. Then placing nv
ear to the key-hole I heard the same
shutting sound again.
Whoever or whatever it was seemed
to be making its way down by very
slow degrees, until it seemed that #
must be about six or seven stairs from
the top. screwed up my courage and
resolved to give the intruder fright.
l turned the key without the least
noise, then the handle, and flung open
the door. stamping my foot and bran
dishing the candle. l heard Haidee
scream; had forgotten her.
My plan succeeded only too well. A
figure which had been crouching on the
stairs sprung up. 1t was Sarah.
Before l had time to do moro thar
. recognize the savage. frightened face,
her foot slipped, and with a piercing
cry, she fell backward down the stairs
The staircase had one turn. /, trem
bling at the door, saw her long, thir
hands clutching and struggling to save
herself at the corner; but she faile l.
and heard heavy thud, and then &
groan. She had fallen headlong to thu
bottom.
For one second leaned against thu
wall unable to move; then, trembling
so that l could scarcely find the TOT
stair, stepped forward to go down
But on the second stair my foot sudden
~ slipped, and, if had not been goins
very slowly because of my agitation
must have fallen. On the next stat
l slipped again; on the next to that
putting out my foot very cautiously,
found a string fastened.
With sudden suspicion, I sat dowr
without advancing further, and sic
my hand along the stair. 1t was slip
perry; SO were the others. The turre
staircase was dark even by day; if l hat
been running downstairs at my usua
pace, nothing could have saved me.
was trap set by Sarah, if nor for get
ting rid Of me altogether, at least To-
seriously injuring me. She was greas
ing the stairs one by one when I hat
heard her. in her alarm at my sudder
appearance she had sprung up, her foo
had slipped on the greasy plate below
which she had been using. and she ha,
fallen herself a victim to the trap sht
had laid for me. And. as the horrible
truth broke upon me, l heard another
groan and murmur / could not dis
tinguish.
To be continued.